Legal Assistant Jobs Forum

[bruin2013]

Hello!

Longtime browser, first time posting.

This might seem like an odd question, but how do I get a job as a legal assistant in a sizable firm (perhaps biglaw, but smaller will do)?

I've done some amateur research and either all the legal assistants are Harvard Fulbright scholars, or they've done something equally amazing in their years as an undergrad.

I have a pretty good GPA from a reputable public school and some extracurriculars on the side, but am panicking (I will be a rising senior) because of the stellar backgrounds of the legal assistants I've come across through online research.

So, when should I apply for a position (if I will be graduating in June, 2013), where do I look for open positions (do I just cold-call firms I'd like to work for/ Craigslist?), and how do I best make myself a competitive candidate since I'm not coming from an Ivy League university?

Thanks!

[francesfarmer]

I'm assuming you go to UCLA because of your username. UCLA has huge weight in LA, as you must know. If your GPA is above a 3.5 (3.8+ would be ideal) you should be able to land a legal assisting job at a large firm in LA if you put in enough leg work. I have looked into large firms in New York and the situation is probably similar, in that you can go to their websites and apply at any time. Write a cover letter that is concise and well-written; find someone who knows how to make a resume look impressive and beg them to do yours. Do this a couple months before you graduate.

Apply everywhere. If you go to UCLA I'm sure they have a massive career fair once a year and I'm sure large law firms are there looking for legal assistants. Talk to the reps. Get their cards. Put your name on some email lists. Don't panic! People DO get jobs in this economy. Hell, I got one, and I had a 3.4 and no motivation.

Also, if you finally do land a fancy legal assisting job, start saving up money for law school. You should probably start doing that now, come to think of it.

[francesfarmer]

One more thing--if you can't land a legal assisting job at a huge firm, get one at a smaller firm. The experience will look good for law school and in a year or two you can parlay your experience into a higher-paid position at one of the aforementioned highly coveted huge firms.

[bruin2013]

Wow, thanks !

You're right, I guess I gave too much away in my username . And if I can finish this last year well, I should be hitting above the "ideal" GPA range.

What I'm afraid was my relatively lack of "leadership" positions in extracurriculars that I decided to partake in while in undergrad. I have a ton of job experience, but a few club activities. Hope that doesn't hurt too much.

Would you happen to know how much weight my school can carry in the Bay? I'm assuming with the competition with Cal, it won't be favorable, but I'm from there and would love to be close to family (I'm weird, I know).

That last bit was incredibly encouraging.

[francesfarmer]

I mean, I'm from Ventura, so I don't really know about the Bay area, but I can't imagine you'd be looked at that much less favorably than Berkeley people (unless the hiring manager went to Berkeley...or USC?). Your GPA is going to be great and honestly nobody cares about extracurriculars as much as they did in high school. You're not applying to college--they want to know if you are reliable and can use Microsoft office. Just write a good cover letter. Lawyers are suckers for articulate cover letters and high GPAs.